Security system for preventing unauthorized removal of merchandise

• US 7,382,256 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braeburn Asset Holdings, LLC, ES Holding Dragoer ApS
• Original Assignee: Eddie L. Stenild, Johan Skjellerup
• Inventors: Stenild, Eddie L., Skjellerup, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US11/056,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0062 with destructive disengagement
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0017 Anti-theft devices, e.g. tags or monitors, fixed to articles, e.g. clothes, and to be removed at the check-out of shops
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0064 of the mechanical type
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2434 Tag housing and attachment details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2457 Lending systems using EAS tags wherein the tags are reusable, e.g. they can be activated and deactivated more than once, e.g. for a library

Abstract

A security tag assembly and security system associated therewith prevent the unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, such as a retail establishment. The security tag assembly comprises a base and at least one attachment member removably connected in an operative position on the merchandise being protected. A locking assembly restricts detachment of the attachment member and is structured to be destructively detached when the base and the attachment member are forcibly separated. A detachment assembly and a data registering processor include a two-way communication link which facilitates processing of the merchandise data disposed on the security tag assembly, such that the purchasing of the merchandise and the removal of the security tag assembly can be effectively accomplished without jeopardizing the security of the merchandise being sold.

Claims

1. A security system for discouraging unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security system comprising:

a security tag assembly comprising at least one attachment member and a base collectively disposable in an operative position relative to the merchandise,

a display field disposed in an exposed position on said security tag assembly and comprising at least merchandise data disposed thereon,

a detachment assembly removably connectable to said security tag assembly and structured to detach said base and said attachment assembly out of said operative position,

a data registering processor cooperatively structured with said detachment assembly to establish two way communication therebetween,

said data registering processor further structured to process said merchandise data received from said detachment assembly and facilitate activation of said detachment assembly for disposition of said security assembly out of said operative position,

said detachment assembly comprising a reader assembly structured to read said merchandise data and facilitate communication thereof to said data registering processor, and

said reader assembly is mounted relative to said detacher assembly disposed and structured to observe said display field of when said security tag assembly that is accurately oriented relative to said detachment assembly.

2. A security system as recited in claim 1 wherein said detachment assembly comprises a holding assembly structured to stabilize said security tag assembly relative to said detachment assembly at least during detachment of said base and said attachment member.

3. A security system as recited in claim 2 wherein said holding assembly is in communication with said data registering processor and being activated into a release position by said data registering processor.

4. A security system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a locking assembly mounted on said attachment member and disposed and structured to engage a connector member secured to said base when said security tag assembly is in said operative position.

5. A security system as recited in claim 4 further comprising said connector member secured to and extending outwardly from said base and disposed and dimensioned to pass into an interior of said attachment member into movement restricting engagement with said locking assembly when said base and said attachment member are in said operative position.

6. A security system as recited in claim 5 wherein said locking assembly is disposed within an interior of said attachment member and in surrounding, movement restricting relation to said connector member when said attachment member and said base are in said operative position.

7. A security system as recited in claim 6 wherein said locking assembly is destructively detached out of movement restricting engagement with said connector member upon forced travel of said connector member out of said attachment member.

8. A security system as recited in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of attachment members each independently connectable to said base in said operative position.

9. A security system as recited in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of attachment members are destructively removable from said base and are subsequently disposable.

10. A security system for discouraging unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security system comprising:

a security tag assembly comprising at least one attachment member end a base collectively disposable in an operative position relative to the merchandise,

a display field disposed in an exposed position on said security tag assembly and comprising at least merchandise data disposed thereon,

a detachment assembly removably connectable to said security tag assembly and structured to detach said base and said attachment assembly out of said operative position,

a data registering processor cooperatively structured with said detachment assembly to establish two way communication therebetween,

said data registering processor further structured to process said merchandise data received from said detachment assembly and facilitate activation of said detachment assembly for disposition of said security assembly out of said operative position,

said detachment assembly comprising a reader assembly structured to read said merchandise data and facilitate communication thereof to said data registering processor, and

said detachment assembly further comprising a holding assembly structured to stabilize said security tag assembly relative to said detachment assembly to facilitate detachment of said base and said attachment member; and

wherein said detachment assembly further comprises an activity display connected thereto and structured to indicate current operative activity of said detachment assembly.

11. A security system as recited in claim 10 wherein said holding assembly is communicative with said data registering processor and is signally activated into a release position by said data registering processor.

12. A security system as recited in claim 10 wherein said activity display comprises a plurality of visual indicators each structured and disposed to indicate a different one of a plurality of operative activities of said detachment assembly.

13. A security system as recited in claim 12 wherein said plurality of operative activities at least comprise engagement of said holding assembly with said security tag assembly;

reading of said merchandise data by said reader assembly and communication of said merchandise data to said data registering processor;

receipt and processing of said merchandise data by said data registering processor and release of said security tag assembly by said holding assembly.

14. A security system for discouraging unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security system comprising:

a security tag assembly comprising at least one attachment member and a base collectively disposable in an operative position relative to the merchandise,

a display field disposed in an exposed position on said security tag assembly and comprising at least merchandise data disposed thereon,

a detachment assembly removably connectable to said security tag assembly and structured to detach said base and said attachment assembly out of said operative position,

said detachment assembly further comprising an activity display connected thereto and structured to indicate plurality of operative activities of said detachment assembly,

a data registering processor cooperatively structured with said detachment assembly to establish two way communication therebetween, and

said data registering processor further structured to process said merchandise data received from said detachment assembly and facilitate activation of said detachment assembly for disposition of said security assembly out of said operative position.

15. A security system as recited in claim 14 wherein said activity, display comprises a plurality of visual indicators each structured and disposed to indicate a different one of said plurality of operative activities of said detachment assembly.

16. A security system for discouraging unauthorized removal of merchandise from a given area, said security system comprising:

a security tag assembly comprising at least one base and a plurality of disposable attachment members each independently connectable to said base in an operative position,

a connector member secured to said base and disposed and structured to engage the merchandise and interconnect any one of said plurality of attachment members to said base in said operative position,

each of said plurality of attachment members including a locking assembly disposed in movement restricting engagement with said connector member when in said operative position,

said locking assemblies destructively detachable from said connector member upon separation of a corresponding attachment member from said base,

a display field disposed on an exposed exterior of said security tag assembly, said display field comprising predetermined merchandise data,

a detachment assembly removably connectable to said security tag assembly and structured to detach said base and a corresponding one of said attachment members out of said operative position,

said detachment assembly further comprising an activity display connected thereto and structured to indicate current operative activity of said detachment assembly,

a data registering processor cooperatively structured with said detachment assembly to establish two-way communication therebetween, and

said data registering processor further structured to process said merchandise data received from said detachment assembly and facilitate actuation of said detachment assembly for disposition of said security tag assembly out of said operative position.

17. A security system as recited in claim 16 wherein said detachment assembly comprises a reader assembly structured to read said merchandise data and facilitate communication thereof to said data processing register.

18. A security system as recited in claim 17 wherein said detachment assembly comprises a holding assembly structured to stabilize said security tag assembly relative to said detachment assembly to facilitate disengagement of said base and said attachment member.

19. A security system as recited in claim 18 wherein said holding assembly is communicative with said data registering processor and is activated into a release position by signaling from said data registering processor.

20. A security system as recited in claim 16 wherein said activity display comprises a plurality of visual indicators each structured and disposed to indicate a different one of a plurality of operative activities of said detachment assembly.

21. A security system as recited in claim 20 wherein said plurality of operative activities at least comprise stabilizing said security tag assembly;

reading of said merchandise data and communication thereof to said data registering processor;

receipt and processing of said merchandise data by said data registering processor and release of said security tag assembly from said detachment assembly.